New Kits: Aston Villa by Luke 1977 & Fanatics

Sartorial Soccer were delighted to see the launch of Aston Villa’s 2018/19 kits with Luke 1977 arriving as kit designers.

Aston Villa unveiled a smart set of kits for the new season in partnership with UK menswear label Luke 1977 and sportswear manufacturers Fanatics.

The meeting of minds between North American producers Fanatics and Luke 1977 has given creativity and control back to the club at a time when bespoke football kits remain at a premium.

Villa fans can take pride in a stripped-down, retro-inspired look with nods to the club’s history, that seem to be at least partly inspired by Le Coq Sportif’s kits of the early ’80s.

The Villans’ classic claret look is updated and features details referencing club founder William McGregor (himself a draper by trade) and his role in the foundation of the Football League 130 years-ago.

The away kit celebrates their 1982 European Cup triumph with both strips having been designed by a fan for the fans.

Luke Roper, Creative Director at Luke 1977, told avfc.co.uk: “Aston Villa are a giant of a club, an institution, and having supported them since I was a boy, this is a proud moment for myself and everyone connected with Luke 1977.

“We understand the history of our great club, we understand the fans and we are ready for the season ahead.”

Having fortuitously avoided a return to the Premier League and Friday night fixtures following their Play-Off Final defeat to Fulham, Steve Bruce’s men will now proudly sport their smartest set of kits for years on more Saturday afternoon 3 o’clock kick-offs. What’s not to like about the Championship?

Sartorial Soccer says:
We believe that football kits should be about identity and a celebration of a club’s culture.

They should not be an off-the-peg design where only the badge and the name of the online gaming firm sponsoring the shirts changes.

Perhaps this collaboration between club, manufacturers and designers is the way forward for football kit production and an antidote to the stale templates we’ve seen major brands dish out in recent years.

We hope this will not be the last we see of Luke 1977 in the world of football shirt design.

What’s your opinion on the new Aston Villa kits and the current fashion for retro-inspired footballkits?